Hello Future Jaguars!
My name is Elaine Reyna, and I am a University Lecturer and Undergraduate Program Coordinator in the Communication Disorders (CDIS) program here at Governors State University (GovState). I absolutely love being a speech language pathologist (SLP) and educator! I’ve been a practicing SLP since 2006 and have worked in a variety of settings including pediatrics and neonates in acute care, outpatient clinics, early intervention (EI), and home/community-based sites. I have worked with clients and families from a wide range of backgrounds, and have special interests in neurodiversity, pediatric feeding and swallowing, and early language development. Connection, early identification, caregiver education, advocacy, empowerment, and equity are my top priorities both as an SLP and educator.
I have been here at Gov State for the past 6 years, and you can find me on campus teaching in the classroom as well as out providing community-based clinical supervision for our students. I am passionate about shaping the next generation of SLPs and hope to instill a passion for humanity, empathy, and social justice into each future colleague. Supervising our student clinicians at the Family Development Center (FDC) on campus is one of my favorite parts of each semester. We provide consultations, screenings, evaluations, and interventions, as well as caregiver and staff education sessions throughout the academic year. It’s a mutually beneficial experience for everyone involved which facilitates a warm and growth-oriented environment.
Our student body amazes me daily! Facilitating comradery and collaboration among them is so fun and watching them supporting each other through all of the ups and downs of life is beautiful. Another way our students socialize and make an impact, is by joining the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) chapter at Gov State. We have a very active chapter, and great participation from both our undergrad and graduate programs, which results in great mentoring, relationship building, leadership, and service opportunities.
There are many service-learning opportunities woven into our program, as well. For example, I am a co-founding member of a local non-profit organization serving the Disability community in nearby Northwest Indiana. One of my roles is to coordinate and educate community and student volunteers for all-ability events like Sensory Egg Hunt, Autism Walk, and Sensory Santa events. Our students have demonstrated exceptional community-oriented mindsets and are always complimented by the families involved. Again, when we are able to coordinate mutually beneficial experiences, everyone wins.
The research project I am working on right now, along with 4 other colleagues in the CDIS department, aims to provide proactive supports across various pillars to students from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds in order to diversify the field of speech-language pathology. I truly enjoy my current position, and value the amazing opportunity to work where belonging and curiosity is prioritized. Our faculty are extremely supportive and focus on building relationships and providing our students with the resources to succeed in life. One of my favorite ways to support our undergraduate CDIS students is by providing small group information sessions and workshops on resume building, interview skills, and the graduate application and admissions process as a whole. There is no greater feeling than when a student sends me a message that they were accepted to a graduate program (preferably ours), except maybe when I see them walk across that stage to earn their degree! (And yes, I’ll be there cheering as loudly as I can!)
Not only do our faculty prioritize supporting students, but I have also directly benefited from their guidance and support. I was encouraged, applied, and was accepted to the Interdisciplinary Leadership in Education Doctoral (EdD) program here at Gov State, which is affording me the opportunity to know even more faculty, staff, and students across campus. With that being said, lets learn and grow together! If any of what I said rings true for you, I hope to see you soon at Gov State! -Prof Reyna
Elaine F. Reyna, MS, CCC-SLP
University Lecturer/CDIS Undergraduate Coordinator
Governors State University
College of Health and Human Services
Department of Communication Disorders
Office: F-1427
Phone: 708-235-7535
Email: ereyna@govst.edu